Conveyer-feeding mechanism.



E. E. WINKLEY. CONVEYER FEEDING IVIECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.5| |914.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l E. E. WINKLEY.

CUNVEYER FEEDING NIECHANISM. APRLICATloN FILED FEB.5.1914.

L ll @@r, 1PM-@med Apr. 25, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1914.

1916. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- E. E. WINKLEY.

coNvEYER FEEmNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FIIIED FEB. 5. 1914.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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, I f )ci E? ERASTUS E. WINKLEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. i

CONVEYEJRf-FEEDING MECHANISM.

LISLQ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, i916..

@riginal application filed August 26, 1910, Serial No. 579,110. Divided and this application led February 5, 1914. Serial No. 816,724.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERAs'rUs E. WINKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ilynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer-Feeding Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to mechanism for imparting an intermittent feed movement to a conveyer or other movable member.

'Ihe object of the invention is to provide a simplified mechanism, adapted to either rectilinear or rotary movement of a conveyer, by which a step-by-step advance will be insured with a positive locking of the conveyer against backward movement during the pause between the feeding steps.

In accordance with this object an important characteristic of the invention is found in the construction and arrangement of the feeding and locking devices whereby such devices are mounted for angular movement across the plane of travel of the co-nveyer.

To the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear, as will be readily understood by thoseI skilled in the art, the invention comprises the features and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in ythe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings the essential principles of the invention are shown as applied to the link conveyer utilized for feeding heels to the heel shaping machine illustrated and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 579,110, filed August 26, 1910, from which the present application has been divided.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of that portion of the frame of the heel shaping machine of my copending application which supportsthe link conveyer and its operating mechanism, together with such mechanism. Fig. 2 1s an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan, in detail, of a portion of the conveyer and its feeding and locking devices. Fig. 4 is a transverse section, in elevation, on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of

the parts shown in Fig. 3, this figure showlng the side of the conveyer opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.'

In theembodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the conveyer is shown as an endless chain extending indefinitely to the left, viewing Fig. 1, to any convement point where itmay be loaded with the articles to be conveyed, either by hand or automatically. The conveyer is supported and guided by sprocket-wheels 22 and 23 Journaled in suitable bearings 20 mounted 1n the main frame F which supports the conveyer actuating mechanism.

The conveyer chain in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, comprises, as shown particularly in Figs. l, 3 and 5, a series of links formed of flat plates 21, provided .with upwardly-extending flanges 24 at one side and end, by which the heels, or other articles comprising the load, are confined upon the plates, as shownin Fig. 1, the heels there shown Abeing indicated by the reference letter X.

Each chain-link is provided with downwardly extending Hanges 26 which are pivotally connected, at the ends of the links, by

r transverse pivot-rods 25. When the conveyer is utilized in connection with a mechanism for transferring the load the portion of the conveyer-chain which is in operative relation with the transferring mechanism may conveniently be supported upon a guide 27 having an elongated raised central portion upon which the pivot-rods 25 rest, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Means is provided for feeding the conveyer intermittently through the space of one link, and then locking it for a period of time, for example during the period required for the operation of a transferring mechanism, whereby the links are brought successively into and retained in a predetermined, fixed location. For the purpose of feeding the Aconveyer the pivot-rods 25 are extended, at one side of the conveyer, to afford bearings for rolls or feeding teeth 28. These rolls are adapted to be engaged and embraced by a feeding dog 29 comprising two spaced lugs (Figs. 3 and 4) extendinofrom a sleeve 30, which is loosely journaled on a suitably mounted horizontal rod 31, arranged with its axis parallel to the path of movement of the conveyer. The sleeve 30 is free to rock on the rod to carry the feeding dog across the plane of travel of the conveyer, but is constrained to move longitudinally therewith by meansof two collars 32 and 33 (Fig. "3) engaging the ends of the sleeve and iXed to the rod. The rod slides longitudinally in lugs 34 and 35 mountedmn the base-portion of the conveyer-guide 27. To impart longitudinal movements to the rod and th sleeve, the rod has a screwthreaded porti 36 which is engaged by a split nut 37 normally clamped in position by a screw 38. A depending lug on the nut (dotted lines Fig. 5) is pivotally connected with two links 3 9, which, in turn, are pivlever 41 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5).

the frame F of the-machine.

oted on a pin 40 in the upper end cof a cam- The cam lever is loosely pivoted lon a stud shaft 42 xed in a bracket F on the frame F of the machine, and at the lower end of the cam-lever is a cam-roll' 43 engaging a cam 44 carried by a cam-shaft 45 also journaled on the frame of themachine (see Fig. 1). When the dog 29 is in engagement with one of the rolls 28, the longitudinal movement of the slide-rod 31 and the sleeve 30, produced by a rotation of the cam 44, results in a corresponding forward movement of the upper portion of 'the conveyer, this movement being in the direction of the arrows 69 in Figs. 1 and 3.

*During the return movement of the sliderod 31 ,and the sleeve 30 it is necessary to disengage the dog 29 from the roll 28, which movement is accomplished by rocking the sleeve on the slide-rod. This rocking movement is produced by mechanism comprising a gear-segment 46 (Figs. 3 and 4) on the sleeve and an elongated gear-segment 47 engaged thereby.l The gear-segment 47 is rotatably mounted on a rod 48, parallel to the rod 31, IiXed in bearings in a bracket F2 on The gear-segment 47 is provided with a depending armI 50 pivoted to the upper end of a rod 51 (Figs. 1 and 2) which carries at its low-er4 end a cam-roll 52 engaging a cam 53 on a cam-shaft 54. The cam-roll and the rod are guided by a distance-arm 55 which is pivoted at one end of the rod and at the other end upon a pivot-rod 56 mounted in bearings in brackets F3 on the frame' F of the machine. The mechanism just described operates, on a rotation of the cam 53, to rock the sleeve 30 at the end ofthe conveyer-feeding movement so as to disepgage the dog 29 from the particular roll 28 with which it has been engaged. The .slide-rod 31 and the sleeve are then moved longitudinally as before described, but in a reversedirection, so as to bring them into position to coperate with the 'next feeding-tooth 28 on the conveyer. At the endV of this longitudinal movement the sleeve 30 is rocked back to again engage thedog 29 with the conveyer.

To lock the conveyer against movement between the feeding movements, the pivotrods 25 are extended at the opposite side of the conveyer to afford bearings for rolls or locking-teeth 57. The locking mechanism comprises a locking dog 58 comprising two spaced lugs like the feeding dog 29 (Figs. 3 and 4) adapted to engage and embrace one ofthe rolls 57. These lugs Yextend from a sleeve 59 journaled on a horizontal rod 60, parallel to the slide rod 31, suitably mounted on the conveyer-guide 27 (Fig. 3). The dog 58 is moved at the proper times across the plane of travel of the conveyer and into and out of engagement with the lockingteeth, by rocking the sleeve 59. This is acone of the locking teeth, while the reversey movement of the gear-segment 47 produces an opposite result. The relative angular position of the dogs 29 and 58 is such that the conveyer is always under control of at least one of them.

The connection comprising the threaded portion' 36 on the slide-,rod 31 andthe split nut 37 affords means by which the conveyer feeding mechanism may be adjusted to move theY conveyer into positions in which the lockin teeth will be accurately engaged by the loc ing dog.

As the longitudinal position in which the heels, or other articles comprising the load, are presented by the conveyer to the other portions of the machine of which the conveyer may form a part, depends upon the position in which the conveyer is brought to 'rest and locked, provision is made for adjusting the feeding and locking mechanisml bodily in the direction of the movement of the conveyer, and to this end the conveyerlguide 27 is slidably supported upon a plate 65 (Figs. 1 and 4) constituting a fixed part threaded into the guide and engagin elongated openings 67 in the plate 65 (gshown in dotted lines in Fig. 3). When the guide is longitudinally adjusted upon the plate 1t carries with it the portions of the feeding and locking mechanism which directly cooperate with the conveyer, since these parts. as already described, have bearings mounted upon the guide, and thus the parts are mamtained in proper coperative relation regardless of this adjustment.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art the invention is not limited in its application to advancing a conveyer in a rectilinear path. lt should be further understood that the invention, While illustrating y)and describing a particular means, Which is convenient and readily controlled for imparting an intermittent feed movement, is comprehensive in this respect,- as delined in the appendediclaims, it being obvious that those skilled in the art may devise various mechanical devices to carry the invention into practical effect.

What is claimed as new, therefore, is

1. A series of connected members .and

`mechanism for imparting an intermittent feed movement thereto comprising a set of feeding and locking teeth for each of said members, devices for alternately engaging 'said teeth to alternately feed said series of members and lock them from movement, and automatic means for operating said devices, substantially as described.

2. A series of connected members and mechanism for imparting an lintermittent feed movement thereto comprising a set of 'feeding and locking teeth for each of said members, devices for alternately engaging said teeth to alternatelyfeed said series of members and lock them from movement, and means 'permitting said devices to be bodily adjusted in the line of movement of said members, substantially as described.

3. A series of connected members and mechanism for imparting an intermittent' feed movement thereto comprising a stepby-step feeding mechanism, a locking mechanism for holding said-members from movement between the feeding steps, and means permitting the feeding mechanism to be adjusted to bring the parts of the1 locking mechanism into proper coperat'ive relation, substantially as described.

4. A movable member and mechanism for imparting an intermittent feed movement thereto comprising separate feedingl and locking teeth on said member, a reciprocating rod a sleeve carried thereby provided with a feeding dog arranged to cooperate With said feeding teeth, a second sleeve provided with a locking dog arranged ing device for engaging saidv teeth, said de-L vices mounted to swing across'the plane of travel of said member to engage and disengage the teeth, mechanism for swinging said devices, and means for moving said feeding device in a direction to advance said member While in engagement With said teeth and then become disengaged and return to its initial position While said member is held from movement by said locking device, substantially as described.

6. A movable member and mechanism for imparting an intermittent feed movement thereto comprising laterally projecting feeding teeth on one 'side of said member, laterally projecting locking teeth on the other side of said member, a rocking member adjacent the movable member carrying a pair of spaced lugs projected toward said feeding teeth comprising a feeding dog, a second rocking member adjacent the movable member carrying a second pair of spaced lugs projected toward said locking teeth comprising a locking dog, a common actuating mechanism for said rocking members constructed and arranged to alternately engage and disengage said dogs with their respective teeth, and means for advancing the said first named rocking member in the line of feed When its dogI is in engagement with a locking tooth, substantially as described.

7. A movable member and mechanism for imparting an intermittent feed movement thereto comprising laterally projecting teeth on said member, a reciprocating guide rod beside said member extending in the line of feed, a sleeve on lsaid rod mounted to rock across the plane of travel of s aid member and constrained to reciprocate therewith, a feeding dog adapted to engage said teethl carried by said sleeve, a pivot pin beside said member, a second sleeve mounted onl said pin to rock across the plane of travel of] said member, a locking dog adapted to engage said teeth carried by said second sleeve,

means to alternately rock said dogs into and out` of engagement With said teeth, and

means. for moving said guide rod and feeding dog in the direction of feed When said y dog and teeth are engaged and in a reverse direction when lthey are disengaged, substantially as described.

8. A movable member and mechanism for imparting an intermittent feed movement to said member comprising laterally projecting teeth on said member, a set of connected feeding and locking devices for engaging said teeth, a power shaft, and a single train of mechanism operated thereby for positively actuating said devices to cause them to alternately engage said teeth for alternately feeding said member and then locking it for movement, substantially as described.

9. A movable member and mechanism for` imparting an intermittent feed movement thereto comprising laterally projecting teeth on said member, rotatable'feeding and locking devices constructed and arranged so that one controls the movement of the other,

ymeans for rocking one of said devices'across engagement vvith said teeth, and relatively to said locking device to advance said member, substantially as described.

10. A movable member and mechanism for imparting an intermittent rectilinear' feed movement to said member comprising a series of feedlng teeth on one side of said member and a series of locking teeth on the.

opposite side of said member, connected devices mounted on the opposite sides of said member for alternately and successively engaging the teeth of each series to alternately feed said member and lock it from movement, and means for automatically operating said devices.

ERASTUS E. VVINKLEY. Witnesses:

ELSIE PRESS, GEO. E. STEBBINS. 

